Give Back This Summer: volunteer to help people in need, animals, or our environment.
If you go to the beach or go on a hike: don't leave any trash and pick up any that you see. Always remember your reusable water bottle and reusable bag!
Palisades Reads, May 25 Over seventy people observed the MLK National Day of Service by volunteering in the 8th Annual Holiday Spirit Toy Drive Speakers at the final Palisades Reads event held on April 29 at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church discussed homelessness, mental illness, and how we can help humanize people with these issues. Rene Buchanan, volunteer coordinator at Daybreak, a shelter for mentally ill homeless women, told a story of a successful woman who suddenly started suffering from depression, became estranged from family and friends, entered hospitals for treatment, and one day was dropped at the doors of OPCC’s
Dr. Kathleen Jackson discussed Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder at Village Books. Local Palisadian, Dr. Jon Kohl, discussed his trip to Haiti where he helped Partners in Health give medical care to Haitians after the earthquake.
Screening of "Tapped", May 6
Eighty people attended the screening of "Tapped" and the discussion about water at Kehillat Israel. Anna Cummins of 5 Gyres, Melinda Rho of LADWP, and Rene Maas of Food and Water Watch participated in the discussion. The message is that plastic pollutes, uses lots of resources, can leech into the water, and bottled water industry isn't as regulated as tap water. Filtered tap water is a more environmental, cost-effective, and a healthy alternative. People can use under the sink filters such as Body Glove; Brita filters, and whole house systems. Always use a reusable bottle.
Palisades Cares Spring Gardening Workshop, April 10
Nancy Cipes of Organic Edible Gardens shared tips for growing healthy plants. Healthy soil that is composted and mulched is the key to healthy plants. Use organic fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers kill the good bacteria in the soil.
E-waste Recycling on April 10
Over 60 Palisadians recycled their e-waste with California Recycles. Thanks to Palisades Presbyterian Church for hosting.
MLK Day of Service in Pacific Palisades, January 18
Local residents donated over 80 toys in our collection boxes at Mogan's Cafe, Benton's, Regal Cleaners, and the YMCA. Members of the Chamber of Commerce also donated toys. The toys were given to OPCC for their client families and also to the Spark of Love toy drive.
Heal the Bay's Day without a Plastic Bag
Palisades Cares volunteers passed out 1,000 reusable bags in the Palisades on December 17. Thanks to students from Palisades High School and other volunteers.
We Helped Homeless Kids and School on Wheels in September
The Annual Backpack/School Supplies Drive resulted in 56 backpacks and lots of school supplies which we donated to School on Wheels. This organization, based on Skid Row, tutors homeless kids all over LA.
School on Wheels, www.schoolonwheels.org, also needs tutors. .
4th of July Parade
Students from Calvary Christian School marched in the parade wearing "Green the Palisades" tshirts and pushing recycling cans. They followed the Citizen of the Year car containing Marie Steckmest, who was honored for her green activities in town.
Palisades Reads
Our 1st annual Palisades Reads was a success! Over 100 residents participated in the various events and many more read The Soloist. People's consciousness was raised about homelessness and mental illness and we enjoyed some beautiful music.
Celebration of New Recycling Bins in the Commercial Area
Pacific Palisades now has 15 blue recycling containers in the commercial area. The recycling containers are paired with trash containers to encourage proper waste disposal. Palisades Cares greatly appreciates the City of LA Bureau of Public Works Community Beautification Grant, and donations by local Palisadians which allowed us to purchase and install these bins. The bins are made by Los Angeles based company, Canterbury International. Remember to recycle clean items and no food waste!!
Palisades Cares thanked its donors at an event at The Oak Room on Feb. 5. Attendees included Councilman Rosendahl and staff; Michael Espinosa of the Office of Community Beautification; donors including Michael Edlen, Lester Wood from the Optimist Club, and Kevin Niles from the Rotary Club, and other community members.
